Ferndown Upper School is a co-educational comprehensive school for students aged between 13 and 19 years. The school was opened in 1972, but since then we have invested in a number of building projects to enhance our curriculum provision and cater for growing numbers on courses.

Our school is a place where everyone can achieve. Besides providing a top quality academic education, we pride ourselves on valuing all kinds of achievement and celebrating this with our students. We have very high aspirations for everyone in our school community, meaning that we expect a lot from our staff and our students and provide a wide range of learning opportunities. We believe that participation and encouragement are the keys to success and this is evident from the number of students who progress from Ferndown to excellent jobs and who achieve qualifications in higher education. We are very proud of the achievements of Ferndown Upper students: they have succeeded in all walks of life!

FACILITIES

Facilities include:

13 laboratories and a computer suite making up the Science Faculty

A well-equipped learning resources centre/library with PCs

A Language laboratory

300 networked computers (1 for every 4 students)

Specialist workshops for Design and Technology which include specialist rooms for electronics and graphics as well as a computer suite

Specialist Art rooms that include Ceramics, Textiles and Photography provision. A network of 50 iMAC Machines was purchased in 2005 for use in digital design and computer animation
Home Economics and Catering suite (refurbished in 2004)

Music Centre including practice rooms and ICT support

Sports Centre

Large assembly Hall

Drama Studio

Careers/Connexions Centre

Large designated area for SEN support

Inclusion Centre

COURSES

The school’s curriculum is designed to reflect the values of a comprehensive school, which seeks to provide the best, in terms of opportunities, and resources, for all students. It builds on the work done in First and Middle Schools, and there is close liaison to ensure both continuity and progression.

The school seeks to create an intelligent and flexible curriculum, which ensures both a broad and balanced programme that prepares students for the future and a degree of individual choice which allows students to pursue particular interests and aptitudes.

Year 9

All students take a common course, in line with the National Curriculum. The subjects studied are: English and English Literature, Mathematics, Science, French, German/Spanish, History, Geography, PE, ICT, Design and Technology, Art, Music, Drama and Religious Education.

Students are setted, banded, or taught in mixed-ability groups according to which works best in each subject.

Years 10 and 11

All students study English, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, an Arts related course, PE, Personal, Social and Health Education and Information and Communication Technology.

Students then choose from a wide variety of courses: French, German, Spanish, Product Design, Graphic Products, Systems and Control, Food Technology, Fashion and Interior Design, Geography, History, ICT, Religious Studies, Art and Design, Drama, Music, PE, Business Studies, Child Development, Media Studies, Sociology. They may also take extra Science to allow them to take three separate sciences rather than Double Science.

Students may choose to take a short course, finishing after Year 10, in many of the above subjects. This allows them, in Year 11, to do extra English, Maths or Science, or to take a new subject (e.g. Business Administration, Photography). A few students take a GCSE at the end of Year 10 and start their AS courses early.